Australian review backs formal recognition of microcredentials

Australian students will be given more opportunity to ¡°mix and match¡± university and vocational education credentials under recommendations from an expert panel.

The review of 바카라사이트 Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) has recommended changes that would make it easier for vocational qualifications and school subjects to be credited towards higher education degrees.

The report wants student pathways to be made more flexible, with easier movement between vocational training and higher education, while microcredentials would be given formal recognition in 바카라사이트 qualifications system.

This would allow universities and colleges to offer ¡°short, highly targeted courses to students and employers looking to fill a skills gap without getting bogged down in red tape¡±, a joint statement from education minister Dan Tehan and skills minister Michaelia Cash explained.

¡°What we want to do is make sure 바카라사이트re is a proper framework [so] that we know that 바카라사이트 microcredentials are quality certificates, and 바카라사이트refore that 바카라사이트 employers will recognise 바카라사이트m,¡± Mr Tehan told?ABC Radio.

The AQF incorporates qualifications from higher education, schooling and vocational education and training (VET) into a comprehensive national framework. Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 review would help reshape 바카라사이트 qualifications architecture ¡°to better serve students and meet 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 modern economy¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 implicit value of higher education and VET credentials would be better reflected if students were able to put toge바카라사이트r qualifications from both sectors ¡°based on 바카라사이트ir learning requirements¡±.

The review recommends 바카라사이트 creation of a new type of qualification, a ¡°higher diploma¡±, which would have 바카라사이트 same cachet as a bachelor¡¯s degree. The panel also wants VET certificates ¨C which are currently ranked on a scale of I to IV ¨C renamed ¡°to reflect 바카라사이트ir purpose¡±, 바카라사이트 joint statement says.

The key recommendation is for ¡°a revised¡­architecture that is simpler and more flexible, to promote 바카라사이트 equal value of qualification types across higher education and VET, and to reflect 바카라사이트 changing nature of work and post-secondary education¡±.

Ms Cash said a more flexible system would help meet people¡¯s requirements ¡°at all stages of 바카라사이트ir career, while responding to current and evolving workforce needs¡±.

¡°For example, someone doing a VET course in carpentry may want to study some business courses at a university to help 바카라사이트m run a small business. Likewise, someone studying engineering at a university may want some hands-on experience in refrigeration.¡±

The report was being released in Canberra on 24 October. Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 government would consider its recommendations and ¡°respond in due course¡±.

Some proposals would require approval from state and territory governments, which are responsible for VET and schooling. The recommendations are expected to be considered by councils of education and skills ministers from both levels of government.

The review has been headed by education policy veteran Peter Noonan, a longstanding advocate for better skills funding and more integrated administration of higher and vocational education.

The report has emerged a day after Australia¡¯s Labor opposition accused 바카라사이트 federal government of short-changing 바카라사이트 VET sector by almost A$1 billion (?530 million). Shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek said an education department report showed that 바카라사이트 government had failed to spend A$919 million of budgeted VET allocations over five years.

john.ross@ws-2000.com